Youngstown State University
Cleveland State
Penguins Visit Cleveland State, Host Oakland in Crucial HL Stretch
10/4/2023 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
| Youngstown State at Cleveland State, vs. Oakland | |
|---|---|
| Date & Time | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 7 p.m. |
| Opponent | at Cleveland State | Live Stats | ESPN+ |
| Date & Time | Sunday, Oct. 8 | 1 p.m. |
| Opponent | vs. Oakland | Live Stats | ESPN+ | International Stream |
| Live Tweets | @YSUWSoccer | @YSUSports |
| Hash Tags | #GoGuins | #HLWSOC |
The Opening Kickoff
The Youngstown State women's soccer team (6-5-1, 2-3 Horizon League) continues conference action with a pair of crucial Horizon League games when it visits Cleveland State, Thursday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. and hosts Oakland, Sunday, Oct. 8. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Farmers National Bank Field.
Last Time Out
The Penguins picked up a big Horizon League victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on Sept. 30. Elis Klein Spindola scored the game-winner in the 54th minute while Regan LaVigna gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 11th minute.
The Cleveland State Series
This is the 21st meeting between Youngstown State and Cleveland State in a series that dates back to 2004. The Vikings lead the all-time series, 12-6-2, and have won six of the last eight contests. Last season, the Vikings defeated the Penguins, 4-2, in Cleveland, Ohio. The last YSU victory was a 1-0 win during the 2019 season in Cleveland.
About Cleveland State
Cleveland State enters the game with a 3-7-2 overall record and a 0-3-2 mark in Horizon League play. Leading the Vikings is Erica Leinweber with four goals.
The Oakland Series
This is the 18th meeting between Youngstown State and Oakland in a series that dates back to 1998. The Golden Grizzlies lead the all-time series 13-1-3. The Penguins lone victory came in 2014 with a 1-0 win at Farmers National Bank Field. The Penguins and Golden Grizzlies tied in the two most recent meetings.
About Oakland
The Golden Grizzlies enter the week with a 3-5-4 overall record and a 1-1-2 mark in league play. Leading the Golden Grizzlies is Macey Wierenga with three goals and seven total points.
Up Next
The Penguins host Horizon League leader Milwaukee, Thursday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Farmers National Bank Field.
Need Some R&R
Graduate students Regan LaVigna and Abriana Rondin continue to climb the YSU all-time points scored list. LaVigna is now tied for seventh all-time with 29 total points (9 goals, 11 assists) and Rondin is tied for 11th with 23 points (8 goals, 7 assists).
LaVigna Nearing Assists Record
Graduate student Regan LaVigna posted her 11th career assist against Northern Kentucky on Sept 17. LaVigna now ranks tied for second all-time and needs three more to tie and four to break the school's all-time record of 14 set by YSU Hall of Famer Missy Laforet (1996-99). LaVigna also needs just one more goal to become just the third player in school history to score at least 10 career goals with at least career assists.
Kirkpatrick Sets All-Time Wins Record
With the Penguins 2-0 over Indiana State, senior Brooklynn Kirkpatrick broke the Youngstown State all-time wins record with 15 and now has 17 after the Penguins' 2-1 win over Purdue Fort Wayne. She broke the old mark of 14 set by Jackie Podolsky from 2012-14.
Tarzi Tacks on Another
The Penguins' leading scorer last season, Elis Klein Spindola, notched her second goal of the season and her first game-winner of the year in YSU's 2-1 win over Purdue Fort Wayne. She added to her scoring column with her first goal of the season against St. Francis (Pa.) on Aug. 17. She led the Penguins with five goals in 2022 and now has seven during her career with the Penguins.
Keister Two Goals, Two Game-Winner
Junior Maddie Keister has scored two goals for the Penguins and both were game-winners. Against Indiana State, she scored her second goal of the season on a header after a corner kick by Lianna Van Sice. She scored the first goal and game-winner of her career on Aug. 20 against Akron. Keister launched a free kick from 35 yards out on the left side and found to the top right corner of the net.
First Season Opening Win Since 2019
Youngstown State defeated St. Francis (Pa.), 3-1, in the 2023 season opener. It marks the first time since 2019 that the Penguins opened the season with a victory. It is also the first season-opening road win since the Penguins defeated Niagara, 2-1, on Aug. 23, 2013.
Most Goals in Opener Since 2010
The Penguins three goals in the season opener against St. Francis (Pa.) were the most to open a season since YSU defeated Robert Morris, 3-1, in 2010. It's also just the fourth time in program history the Penguins have scored at least three goal in the first game of the year.
Goals Opponent Year
3 at St. Francis (Pa.) 2023
3 at Robert Morris 2010
4 Westminster 1999
3 Howard 1996
Weiland Scores First Career Goal
Sophomore Chloe Weiland notched her first career goal against the St. Francis (Pa.) on Aug. 17. Weiland's goal came at the 84:42 mark of the game against the Red Flash to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead.
First 3-0 Start Since 2012
With wins over St. Francis (Pa.) on Aug. 17, Akron on Aug. 20 and Duquesne on Aug. 24, Youngstown State posted its first 3-0 record to start the season since 2012.
All-League Returners
Abriana Rondin was named to the All-Horizon League Second-Team while Taylor Berry was named to the All-Freshman Team. Rondin had three goals and two assists while Berry scored four goals and assisted on another. All three of Rondin's goals came in Horizon League action, including the game-winner against Purdue Fort Wayne in the Horizon League Championship semifinals. Berry, who had a game-tying goal against Oakland on Sept. 15, led the Penguins to their first tournament win since 2008 with two goals against Wright State in the quarterfinals on Oct. 30.
Penguins Predicted Fourth
The Youngstown State women's soccer team was picked to finish fourth in the 2023 Horizon League Preseason Poll after a vote of the league's head coaches. The Penguins, who earned one first-place vote, totaled 84 points. Milwaukee was a near unanimous pick to win the league with 10 first-place votes and 120 points. Oakland was predicted to finish second with 93 points and Purdue Fort Wayne was third with 85 points, just one point ahead of the Penguins.
2023 #HLWSOC Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Milwaukee (10) – 120
2. Oakland – 93
3. Purdue Fort Wayne – 85
4. Youngstown State (1) – 84
5. Cleveland State – 73
6. IUPUI – 69
7. Wright State – 65
8. Northern Kentucky – 61
9. Detroit Mercy – 40
10. RMU – 19
11. Green Bay – 17
